Which Gamepad

starM

Hi,

I looking for a Gamepad for 7 years old son.

I have looked afew:-

Archos Game Pad 7 (Liked the idea of Tablet with games keys but not sure of may games availability) - http://www.tesco.com/direct/archos-game-pad-7/147-4981.prd?skuId=147-4981&fromRV=true

Nintendo 3DX - http://www.tesco.com/direct/nintendo-3ds-xl-blacksilver/275-2139.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=275-2139

Nintendo wii U

Which one do you think will be best to buy?

Thanks
MS

PenguinJim

Hi,

A "gamepad" is usually the controller you hold in your hands to play games on your Xbox/Playstation/Nintendo console or PC. Just buttons and sticks, and rarely have their own screen.

The WiiU controller has its own screen, but also needs a TV. (You can play just on the controller's screen, but you must still be near the WiiU box. You can't take it outside and keep using it on the train, for example.)

It sounds like you're after a portable gaming system, for use both at home and in the back of the car, on holiday, etc.

First of all, you'll need to decide if you want a dedicated gaming system or a more general-use tablet that also plays games.

General-use tablets will almost all be iPads or Androids. For a 7-year-old you can probably cross iPads off the list as they are premium and expensive. That Archos Gamepad is Android, but there are lots of different kinds of Android hardware, and not all games will work with all systems. Even games that run on the Archos Gamepad won't necessarily be able to use the physical controls included. I would not recommend getting the Archos Gamepad. You would do better to buy a decent 7" or 9" Android tablet and then a 3rd-party controller for it.

The benefit of an Android tablet is that they can be used for a lot more than just gaming, they have larger screens, and you have a good choice of hardware to suit your wallet. The disadvantage is that they will be a lot more complicated to set up, and for young children it is possible to use them for more "adult" uses - not dissimilar to giving a child an Internet-connected PC. If you have the time and interest, you can support and protect your son, but it will require a significant amount of supervision.

Dedicated portable gaming systems are far more straightforward. The 3DS is great system, with plenty of titles geared towards younger players. The controls are straightfoward and decent, but there is only one thumbstick, which does limit controls in first-person games. For a 7-year-old, I would strongly recommend looking for a sale price on the 2DS. It plays all 3DS games, but is cheaper and does not have the optional 3D stuff. As there are warnings about children using the 3DS's 3D, this actually makes it better for kids! Please note that 3DS hardware is region-locked, so importing games or buying them on holiday is a ball-ache. You should be looking at about £89 for a 2DS - I think you can get them instore in Sainsbury's bundled with a Pok!mon game for £90 at the moment.

The Sony Playstation Vita is the "other" dedicated handheld device. It's a lot faster and has two thumbsticks, and is region-free. It's a far better option for serious gamers. In the long-term, buying into the Playstation ecosystem may also mean you have some games ready if, in future, you pick up a PS3 or PS4. The Vita also has access to the immense PS1 and PS2 back catalogue, which is fantastic for J-RPGs. However, in addition to the Vita unit itself, you'll also need to buy an expensive proprietary memory card. You'll be looking at about £140 for a Vita + 16GB memory card and some games..

The 2DS gets my vote, personally. Feel free to ask more questions!